Floribunda rose plant named &#39;Meipomolo&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Floribunda  rose plant is provided that forms on a nearly continuous basis attractive bright yellow-orange blossoms. The growth habit is vigorous and bushy. The semi-glossy foliage is dense, dark green and of good substance and contrasts nicely with the yellow-orange blossom coloration. Very good tolerance to Black Spot and Oidium is displayed under normal growing conditions. The plant is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. ‘Meipomolo’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Rosa hybrida variety of Floribunda rose plant was created by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the new variety was the ‘Kortikel’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The ‘Kortikel’ variety sometimes is marketed under the GOLDEN HOLSTEIN trademark. The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the ‘Meidomonac’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,105). Plants of the ‘Meidomonac’ variety are marketed under the BONICA trademark. The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: ‘Kortikel’×‘Meidomonac’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Floribunda rose plant of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

(a) forms on a nearly continuous basis attractive bright yellow-orange blossoms,

(b) exhibits a vigorous and bushy growth habit,

(c) forms decorative dense dark green semi-glossy foliage of good substance,

(d) displays good tolerance to Oidium and Black Spot, and

(e) is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

The yellow-orange blossom coloration is luminous in character and contrasts nicely with the dark green foliage. Blooming commonly occurs on a substantially uninterrupted basis from May to November.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. More specifically, the blossoms of the ‘Kortibel’ variety are pure yellow instead of bright yellow-orange. The ‘Meidomonac’ variety forms dissimilar medium pink blossoms.

The new variety of the present invention also can be readily distinguished from other similar Floribunda rose varieties, such as the ‘Meibaltaz’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,449) and ‘Meimonblan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,579) varieties. Each forms blossoms having a different coloration. The ‘Meibaltaz’ variety forms yellow blossoms and the ‘Meimonblan’ variety forms darker tangerine orange blossoms.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry and is particularly well suited for enhancing the appearance of the landscape.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in France by a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and cuttage. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques in the South of France has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation to another.

The new variety has been named the ‘Meipomolo’ variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plants of the new variety were two years of age and were observed during September while budded on Rosa froebelli understock and growing outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters are indicated at the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of the petals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing the arrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing the arrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets—plan view—upper surface;

FIG. 15—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets—plan view—under surface; and

FIG. 16—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets—plan view—upper surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based on the observation of two year- old plants during October while budded on Rosa froebelli understock and growing outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Reference to color in common terms is to be accorded its ordinary dictionary significance.

-   Class: Floribunda. -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—approximately 80 to 90 cm on average at the end of             the growing season.         -   Width.—approximately 80 to 90 cm on average at the end of             the growing season.         -   Habit.—bushy. -   Branches:     -   -   Color.—young stems: near Green Group 137A. — adult wood:             near Green Group 137B.         -   Thorns.—configuration: rather upright, longish-pointed on             the upper surface and concave on the under surface. — on             young stems: over a length of 18 cm approximately 5 on             average long prickles having lengths over 5 mm that are near             Greyed-Purple Group 185D in coloration at the base and near             Yellow-Green Group 151D towards the tip. — on adult stems:             over a length of 19 cm approximately 8 on average long             prickles having lengths over 5 mm that are near             Greyed-Orange Group 166A in coloration. -   Leaves:     -   -   Stipules.—adnate, pectinate, and medium broad.         -   Petioles.—upper surface: near Green Group 136B in             coloration. — under surface: near Green Group 137B and 137C             in coloration. — length: approximately 1 to 2 cm on average.         -   Leaflets.—number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. — shape:             elliptic with a pointed tip and an obtuse base. — size:             terminal leaflets commonly are approximately 7 cm in length             on average and approximately 3.5 to 4 cm in width on             average. — serration: fine and regular (as illustrated). —             texture: smooth, semi-glossy, and of good substance. —             general appearance: very dense, dark green, and semi-glossy.             — color (young foliage): upper surface: dark green, near             Green Group 136A. under surface: dark green, near Green             Group 137A and suffused with some red anthocyanin             coloration. — color (adultfoliage): upper surface: dark             green, near Green Group 136A. under surface: dark green,             near Green Group 137A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers.—commonly in clusters of 2 to 5 flowers             per stem.         -   Peduncle.—rigid, medium in size, and near Green Group 138A             in coloration.         -   Sepals.—upper surface: tomentose and near Yellow-Green Group             148B and 148C in coloration. — under surface: smooth, and             near Green Group 137B, 137C, and 137D in coloration. Some             small extensions are present (as illustrated).         -   Buds.—shape: conical. — size: medium. — length:             approximately 1.5 cm on average. — color upper surface: near             Yellow-Orange Group 15B and lightly suffused on the first             petal whorls with Orange-Red Group 35A as the calyx breaks.             — color under surface: near Yellow-Orange Group 15D and             widely suffused with Orange-Red Group 35A as the calyx             breaks. — spot at base: none observed.         -   Flower.—blooming habit: commonly blooms in clusters from May             to November on a substantially continuous basis. — shape:             cup-shaped. — diameter: approximately 7 to 9 cm on average             when fully open. — color (when blooming): upper surface:             bright yellow-orange, near Yellow-Orange Group 15B and 15C.             under surface: near Yellow-Orange Group 15D and             Yellow-Orange Group 16D and lightly suffused with Orange-Red             Group 35C. — spot at base: none observed. — color stability:             very slight fading with advancing maturity. — petal number:             approximately 29 on average under normal growing conditions.             — petal arrangement: imbricated. — petal configuration:             reflexed tip and an obtuse base. — petaloids: very few             located at the center. — anthers: regularly disposed around             the styles and approximately 0.2 cm in size on average. —             filaments: approximately 0.4 cm in length on average. —             styles: approximately 0.2 cm in length on average. —             stigmas: approximately 0.1 cm in size on average. —             fragrance: none. — petal drop: the petals commonly detach             cleanly before drying. — receptacle: smooth, near Green             Group 137B suffused with some red anthocyanin coloration,             commonly approximately 0.6 to 0.8 cm in length and             approximately 0.6 to 0.8 cm in width on average, and in             longitudinal section in the shape of a pitcher. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—very strong.         -   Blooming.—nearly continuous.         -   Tolerance to diseases.—very good with respect to Oidium and             Black Spot under normal growing conditions.         -   Aptitude to bear fruit.—medium. 

1. A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant having the following combination of characteristics: (a) forms on a nearly continuous basis attractive bright yellow-orange blossoms, (b) exhibits a vigorous and bushy growth habit, (c) forms decorative dense dark semi-glossy foliage of good substance, (d) displays good tolerance to Oidium and Black Spot, and (e) is well suited for growing as ornamentation in parks and gardens; substantially as illustrated and described. 